Secure post

ABSTRACT

A device that is installed at the base of a sign post used to hold an existing sign post in an upright, vertical and plumb condition after being returned to this position from a leaning or slanting position. The said device is comprised of a flat molded base made of plastic or metal and is typically round or square in shape ( 1 ). The said device is generally manufactured in two halves that when placed together have an opening that is of the same shape of the sign post ( 3 ). The said device has four or more penetrations ( 2 ), depending on the size and shape of said device used. Each penetration ( 2 ) are in the shape and size of the desired anchoring stake ( 9 ) to be used. The said device can be mounted at or below grade. After restoring the sign to its vertical position and preparing the surrounding soil, the two halves of device are placed around the base of the sign ( 8 ) and joined together at a common line ( 5 ). The two halves of said devices are then affixed together using a mending plate ( 7 ) and screws ( 6 ) screwed into preset drilled holes ( 4 ) or other means not shown. The anchoring stakes ( 9 ) are then hammered through the anchoring stake holes ( 2 ) in the said device ( 1 ) to affix the said device to the ground. Installation of the device is complete and the forces affect the post are now dispersed to the larger are of said device which therefore provides additional restraint of the movement of the post in the soil thereby preventing the sign from leaning.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISK APPENDIX

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to the straightening repair of metal and wood street signage and mailbox posts. Street sign posts often become loose and begin to lean after being exposed to frequent wind forces. It is also common for mailbox posts to become loose and begin to lean due to the frequent pulling and shutting of the box as well as being subject to snow impacts during snow plow removal operations in the colder climates. The secure post device provides and easy, low cost way to keep these posts in a plumb or vertical position once an existing post has been repositioned. The device can also be used in new installations for added support in poor soils and to prevent the posts from future leaning concerns.

DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART

In the United States roadway street sign and their posts are required to be installed in a straight and plumb condition by the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices. This common practice is used throughout the world. A sign that is not in a straight and plumb condition can be determined unlawful and not enforceable. In accordance with the above, all street signs are initially installed in a plumb and vertical position. Over time, some signs begin to lean due to the ground condition, forces of wind and other natural phenomena. Currently, it is common practice to restore a leaning sign to a vertical position by either wedging material into the ground by the base of the sign, encasing the base in concrete or to remove and replace the sign post entirely.

These current methods are less than optimal. The wedging of a stone or block of wood at the base of the sign can often fix the problem temporarily but as this does not address the cause of the failure, the sign often begins to lean again after a fairly short period of time. Another method is to excavate and pour concrete at the base of the sign. This is usually an effective permanent solution but involves a lot of time and effort to complete and if the sign is inadvertently struck by a vehicle, the removal and reinstallation process is more difficult. The third common method is to remove and replace to post with a new post or same post driven in a slightly different location. This can be a complicated process as the existing sign needs to be removed from the post and reinstalled, underground utilities must be located and typically is labor intensive.

The same leaning concern can be found in the case of residential mailboxes that are commonly supported by similar means. After a length of time, mailbox posts will typically lean out toward to the road due to the daily pulling open and shutting force exerted prior to inserting or removing mail. Additionally, in colder climates where snow removal operations are common, the force of the snow hitting the mailbox and post will cause the mailbox to lean in the direction of the plowed snow. While there are no specific requirements for a mailbox to be straight, leaning mailboxes are not aesthetically pleasing to the eye. While not requiring mailboxes to be vertical or plumb, local postal codes often require the mailbox to be a certain distance away from the curb or edge of traveled way and usually at a specified height. A leaning mailbox can result in non-compliance with these codes.

Recently, the street sign field has seen the introduction of various items designed to reduce the cost associated with sign replacement by using breakaway bases and other types of sleeves if a sign is struck but nothing to address the ability to remain in a vertical position. Additionally, in the case of residential mailboxes, items are available to sink into the ground and act as a base for support during the initial installations. But these are only different options of installation and do not address the corrective action of a leaning mailbox without removing and replacing the existing support.

Most street maintenance forces in charge of keeping signs in a straight, legal and aesthetically pleasing condition, therefore, desire a low cost simple solution to correct this common problem.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, we claim the following as our objects and advantages of the invention: a device installed at the base of a sign post to secure a post in a vertical position either during the initial installation of the sign or mailbox post or after being returned to a vertical position from a leaning position.

The device works based on a simple principal. A sign or mailbox post enters the ground in a single isolated location. The object that is being supported on a post is often much larger that the size of the post. When forces exert energy on the objected being supported by the post, the energy is transferred to the base of the sign at the ground. The secure post device enlarges the area for this energy to be dissipated at the ground, thereby reducing the effect of these forces at the base of the post.

As the size of signs and soil conditions vary, the size of the secure post device is designed to vary as well. Smaller signs installed in better ground conditions will use a smaller secure post device while larger signs and poorer soil conditions will take larger devices. The secure post device can also be manufactured to fit the many varieties of sign or mailbox post types from round to square to u-channel and the different sizes of each. It is believed this device could be used for other pole supported features as well such as cloth lines poles, fence posts and sport game net support poles such as used for badminton nets.

Another benefit of the device is that this device can be manufactured as a solid piece, except for the openings necessary for the post and stakes, which can resist the growth of weed and grass around the base of a sign or as a semi-solid disk which allows for the growth of material around the base. The device can be mounted above or below the ground depending on the desired aesthetic appearance at the base.

The stakes used to anchor the device to the ground can range from a common plastic tent stake to a metal cork-screw type stake. The type of stake used will depend on the ground condition and loading.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The attached figures are shown to further explain the device and its adaptability to varying conditions:

FIG. 1 shows the device in a top view. The device shown in this figure is for a circular diameter device for a u-channel type post with each individual part assigned a reference number.

FIG. 2 shows the device in a side view. This view shows the tent type anchor stakes installed with the mending plates and screws used to join the two halves of the device together. All parts shown are assigned a reference number.

FIG. 3 shows the device in an exploded view in order to show how the parts of the device are assembled together. All parts shown are assigned a reference number.

FIG. 4 shows the typical top and elevation view of the semi-solid device for a standard steel telspar type sign post.

FIG. 5 shows the typical top and elevation view of the solid device for a standard steel round type sign post.

FIG. 6 shows the typical top and elevation view of the standard steel square type sign post.

FIG. 7 shows the typical top and elevation view of the standard 4×4 wood post or mailbox post type device.

DRAWING REFERENCE NUMBERS

-   1. Secure post device -   2. Cut out for standard tent stake -   2A. Cut out for other type of anchor stake such as a metal cork     screw. -   3. Cut out for sign post—can vary depending on type of sign as shown     in figures. -   4. Machine screw hole used to attach the two halves of the device by     use of a steel mending plate. -   5. Cut line distinguishing each of the two halves of the device. -   6. Stainless steel machine screw. -   7. Steel mending plate. -   8. Existing of proposed manufactured sign post. -   9. Anchor stake.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows a general type secure post device. The secure post device (1) is composed of two halves that enables the secure post to be placed around an existing pole or post (8). The center opening of the secure post device (3) can be varied in production to accommodate the various shapes and styles of posts. The two halves are placed together along a line (5) and joined together preferably using two steel mending plates (7) and four stainless steel machine screws (6) which are screwed in to the four machine screw holes (4). The device can then be anchored into the ground by hammering the stakes (9) through the stake openings (2) and into the ground.

Although not shown in the figures, the secure post device could be manufactured integral to a new sign post. In this case the secure post device would be a single piece unit either molded as part of the post or attached to the post prior to the post installation.

The secure post device works on the simple principal of dispersing the forces that are exerted onto the base of a sign or mailbox post from the effects of wind, snow and other forces over a larger area. Typically, a street sign or mailbox is supported by a single post. The surface area of the sign or mailbox is substantially greater than the area of the post. Forces exerted on the object being supported by the post are concentrated to the post and transferred down the post to the surface of the ground. In the case of wind forces on street signs, this creates a rocking and twisting motion of the post at the ground. Over time this motion will carve out an area at the ground and cause the sign to lean. The secure post device distributes the rocking and twisting motion over the area of the device and stakes thereby preventing the post from carving of void in the adjacent soil and the sign being able to lean. The size, thickness, shape and anchoring stakes of the secure post device can be varied to adapt said device to any type of post, soil condition and sign forces. A larger sign being supported by a post embedded in poor soils would require a larger diameter device than a smaller sign in good soil.

The secure post invention can be easily installed with the use of a hammer, hand shovel and screwdriver. While testing in colder climates with freezing ground conditions has found the device to function best when placed approximately 4 inches below ground, the device can also be placed atop of the existing ground. The secure post device shall be installed by the following method: Prior to installing the device, the existing sign or other type post must be pushed back into an upright and plumb condition. Next, if the secure post device is to be installed below grade, the hand shovel should be used to excavate an area about 2 inches larger than the surface of the secure post device and approximately 4 inches deep. Next, whether at or below grade, the open area at the base caused by moving the sign back to a straight and vertical position should be filled with soil. The loose soil in the excavated area around the base of the sign post should be compacted around the base using the hammer and made level.

The secure post is now ready to be installed. The two halves are placed around the post and screwed together using the mending plates and machine screws the device is then lowered into the excavated area. Anchoring stakes are then hammered through the secure post device and into the ground until the stake head is touching the top of the secure post device. It is recommended the stakes be hammered into the ground at slightly differing angles to assist in resisting the forces of frost heave. Finally, cover the entire secure post device with the previously excavated material and the job is complete. The entire task should be able to be completed by a single person crew in under ten minutes.

In conclusion, the secure post device provides a simple low cost, effective solution to retain a sign, mailbox or other type post in a straight and vertical position either after being restored from a leaning condition or as a means to prevent a sign from leaning in a new installation. The preferred use will be to restore a leaning sign as there is no simple current device available for this purpose except those that involve the removal and replacement of the post. 

1. A device for retaining an existing or new post in a vertical and plumb condition either during the initial installation of the sign post or following the repositioning of the post after found in a leaning condition. Said device is comprised of a flat molded plate with a center opening of the size and shape of the post the said device is to be installed around with penetrations in the plate to allow for the installation of anchoring stakes and the mending together of the flat molded plates.
 2. The device of claim 1 can be varied in size, shape and thickness to be adaptable to a variety of force loads and ground conditions.
 3. The device of claim 1 can be varied in mass to allow for the growth of plants through the device or left solid to prevent the growth of plants immediately atop of said device.
 4. The device of claim 1, if installed as a solid mass type device, will act as a weed barrier and generally not require the maintenance of weed whacking grass and/or weeds around the base of the sign.
 5. The thickness of said device of claim 1 can be varied to give additional support to signs installed in less desirable ground conditions or subject to high forces of nature.
 6. The center opening in said device of claim 1 can be varied in manufacturing to adapt to a variety of different sign post shapes and sizes.
 7. The anchoring stake openings in said device of claim 1 can be varied to adapt to different styles and sizes of stakes readily available.
 8. The anchoring stakes openings in said device of claim 1 can be modified to provide a locking mechanism to keep the stakes from dislodging from said device of claim
 1. 9. The anchoring stakes used in said device of claim 1 can be changed to a variety of stakes sizes, shape and configuration to adapt to withstand movement in a multitude of different soil conditions and forces.
 10. The two halves in said device of claim 1 are shown affixed together using mending plates and screws but does not claim other means of affixing the two halves are not possible.
 11. The device of claim 1 can be manufactured from a variety of materials but the preferred material is high density HDPE plastic.
 12. The device of claim 1 can be manufactured as a single unit, molded with or attached to a new sign post. 